Definite and indefinite articles
Introduction
Mary is a scientist. She works at the University of Manchester.
Definition
We use articles before nouns to help define them.
Indefinite and definite articles
Indefinite article: a or an I have a banana and an orange.
Definite article: the The food at this restaurant is delicious.
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Note
Sometimes an article is not necessary but we always need one with a singular countable noun.
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| Singular countable nouns | Plural countable nouns | Uncountable nouns |
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a - for nouns that begin with a consonant sound
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an - for nouns that begin with a vowel sound
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the
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Indefinite article
a or an
we use a:
- before consonant sounds: a doctor, a mechanic, a dog, a big car, a happy person
- before vowels that sound like the consonant /j/: a university, a European person
we use an:
- before vowels: an architect, an umbrella, an easy exercise, an important meeting
- before 'h' when it is silent: an hour, an honourable person
- before consonants that sound like vowels: an FBI agent, an SNCF employee
| Rules for 'a/an' | Examples |
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To define something |
Tennis is a sport. Manchester is a city in England. A mule is an animal with long, furry ears.
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To describe someone or something
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She's a lovely person. He's an optimist. She's a good swimmer. It's a lovely day today. She lives in a big house.
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To talk about jobs
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He's a lawyer and his wife is an electrician. |
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When we mention something or someone for the first time |
I have a dog and a cat. There's an angry man in reception! She has a new car.
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When we mean one of many - it doesn't matter or we don't know which one |
Can you open a window, please? She works in an office.
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Definite article
We use the before singular and plural countable nouns and before uncountable nouns.
| Rules for 'the' | Examples |
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When we talk about something specific - we know which one(s) |
Where is he? He's in the bedroom. What is the name of your company? Here are the parts that you ordered. The children are on holiday this week. [the speaker's children]
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When we talk about something previously mentioned |
We have a cat and a dog. The cat is very old but the dog loves playing with the children.
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When there is only one |
Paris is the capital city of France. the sun the Queen of England
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| Countries which are plural or which include the kind of country in the name - kingdom, republic etc. |
the UK the United States the Netherlands the Alps the Maldives
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Regions and points on the globe |
the Far East the Mid-West [U.S.] the North Manchester is a city in the north-west of England. the North Pole
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Oceans, seas, rivers, forests, gulfs, peninsulas and deserts (but not lakes)
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the Pacific the Irish Sea the Rhone the Sahara the Black Forest the Gulf of Mexico
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When talking generally about the population of some countries
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The Spanish start work later and finish later than other Europeans. The Japanese are often quiet during meetings.
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A particular animal, machine, musical instrument etc. |
The elephant lives in Africa and Asia. Do you play the piano?
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Buildings |
the National Gallery the Louvre the Ritz Hotel the Opus Restaurant
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Some organisations and institutions |
the police the Army, the Navy, the Royal Air Force the BBC the Internet
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Some expressions relating to position or time |
on the top in the middle at the bottom
on the left/right
at the moment in the end at the beginning
at the weekend in the morning/afternoon/evening
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Examples
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| Can you open a window, please?
| Can you close the window, please?
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| I need to buy a book. | The book I am looking for is by J. Wright. |
